Handbag lock



Nov,l 2, 1948. A. KoNELsKY 2,453,021

HANDBAG Loox Filed Nov. a7, 1946` ANNA KoNELsKY A JMA/ma.

Patented Nov. 2, V1948 .l UNITED; S TATES AT ENT OFFICE HANDBAG LQCK Anna ionelsky, New York, N. Y.

Application. November 27, 1946, Seriallilo. 71.2;702:

6 Claims. (Cl. 292f-1l The invention here disclosed relates to devices for securing handbags, brief cases and the like, in closedl position.

Objects ofthe invention are to provide means for securing articles which may be generally considered as handbags. in closed condition` and which will operate automatically to eliect that result without particular attention on.` the part of the user.

Particularly it isa purpose of the invention to provide an automatic self-seeuring form of lock whichwill be small enough and suiciently attractive in appearance, operation and the like, for use on ladies handbags.

Other desirable objects are to provide securing means of the character indicated which will be of simple, inexpensive construction and readily applicable to the various forms of handbag structures.

Other desirable objects and the novel features through which the purposes of the invention are attained are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawing accompanying and` forming part ofi the specification illustrates a present practical embodiment of the invention, though structure may be modied and changed as regards this specification, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a perspective view of a ladys handbag or pocketbook having the invention incorporated therein;

Fig. 2 isan enlarged broken sectional detail as on substantially the plane of line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a preliminary stage in the releasing of the lock;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged broken sectional View as on substantially the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3.

The bag shown in Fig. 1 is of the envelope type having an opening at the top, closed by a downwardly folding ap 5.

On the front of the bag structure Ei, below the lower edge of the closure ap, there is mounted a permanent magnet l shown as of the U-shaped or horseshoe type and the flap carries a keeper to be attracted and held by such magnet.

In the special form of the invention shown, this keeper is in two parts, a rod 8 of magnetic material supported in loops 9 on the lower edge of the nap for bridging the spaced pole pieces of the magnet and a U-shaped piece of magnetic material il! pivoted on the rod at l l and arranged to drop down in full engagement over the face of the magnet.

The combination of these two relatively adjustable keeper elements assures fullmagnetic couping between the permanent magnet and keeper elements and enables one to hold while 2` possibly the other is being releasedA intheact. of releasing thel lock;l to open theV bag. Thus, as shown inv Fig. 3, the rod 3 engagement with the pele` pieces will hold the cover.- 5 clos-ed While.

the dependent keeper element. .lilr is raised to eect a preliminary or` partial separation, and;

thentbis raised keeper portieri ielmay. be used as an effective handle for pulling the magnetic away. fromy the poles of the magnet. Similarly inclosing. the` bag, the magnetic rod will dropdown automatically into magnetically.

held engagement. with the pole pieces, primarily Vpositioning. the swingingA keeper` i so that it will` .swing `down naturally and4 automatically into fully. coupled'magnetic engagement over the body mfwementof` the keeper portion lli, it will be held securely locked againstV accidental or intended releasing movements in other directions. The hook lug l2 may be arcuate in shape, as indicated in Fig. 3, so as to grip the magnet more securely, resisting sidewise movements and automatically centering the keeper over the magnet. At the top the keeper bar or rod8 is centered over the ends of the pole pieces by spacing collars I3 fixed on the rod at opposite sides of the keeper hinge loop il and at the inner edges of the loops or strips 9 which secure the rod to the cover.

The magnet, particularly in the horseshoe shape shown, may serve an ornamental purpose on the front of the bag and therefore may be mounted as shown, in an exposed, projecting position secured about a positioning and supporting block I4 of wood, plastic or other material.

The swinging keeper l0 is shown covered by a pad l5 which may be ornamental in character and serve as well for a convenient handle for operating the device.

The invention provides an attractive form of lock which can be applied at small cost to ladies handbags and the like and which will operate automatically to close and to hold the bag cover closed. At the same time, anyone familiar with ,the lock can easily release it by simply lifting `the tab to free the swinging keeper and then further lifting to free the bar keeper from the magnet. While particularly desirable for securing covers of the envelope flap type, because of the fact that such a closure will automatically drop the keeper down into position for attraction and holding by the magnet, it will be realized Thus` while the cover can be quickly andeasily released' by an 4outwardly swinging` and upwardlylifting that the lock structure may beapplied to other forms of closures.

What is claimed is:

1. A lock for handbags of the envelope type includng a bag body and a downwardlyswinging closure flap, said lock comprising a permanent magnet mounted on the front of the bag body and a magnetic keeper mounted on the lower edge of the cover ap in position for attraction by and cooperative engagement with said magnet, said keeper being in two parts, including a magnetic bar at the top and a dependent swinging keeper element below the same.

2. A lock for handbags of the envelope type including a bag body and a downwardly swinging closure ap, said lock comprising a permanent magnet mounted on the front of the bag body and a magnetic keeper mounted on the lower edge of the cover flap in position for attraction by and cooperative engagement with said magnet and an inwardly projecting lug on said keeper mechanically engageable beneath the lower edge of said magnet.

3. A lock for handbags comprising a permanent U magnet for mounting on one portion of a handbag and a keeper bar for mounting on the companion portion of the handbag in position to bridge the poles of said U magnet and a swinging keeper plate pivoted on said bar in position to swing over the face of the U magnet when said bar is engaged with the poles of the magnet and an arcuate lug on the inner face of said swinging keeper element engageable beneath the curved bottom portion of Vsaid U magnet.

4. A lock for handbags comprising a permanent U magnet for mounting on one portion of a handbag and a keeper bar for mounting on the companion portion of the handbag in position to bridge the poles of said U magnet and a swinging keeper plate pivoted on said bar in position to swing over the face of the U magnet when said bar is engaged with the poles of the magnet and positioning elements on said bar for centering the same over the ends of said pole pieces.

5. A lock for handbags comprising a permanent U magnet for mounting on one portion of a handbag and a keeper bar for mounting on the companion portion of the handbag in position to bridge the poles of said U magnet and a swinging keeper plate pivoted on said bar in position to swing over the face of the U magnet when said bar is engaged with the poles of the magnet, positioning elements on said bar for centering the same over the ends of said pole pieces and a projecting lug on said swinging Akeeper engageabl'e over the lower end of said magnet for positioning said swinging keeper thereon.

6. A lock for handbags comprising a permanent magnet and means for mounting the same on one portion of a handbag, a keeper and means for mounting the same on the companion portion of such a. handbag, said keeper comprising Aa liandtab portion pivoted to swing down over the face of the permanent magnet and a projecting keeper lug at the free swinging end of said pivoted REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,288,688 Dubilier July 7,- 1942 2,327,532v

Krupp Aug. 24, 1943 

